BMW has released new pictures of the 2-Series Gran
Coupe, ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Set to battle the Mercedes CLA,
the 2-Series Gran Coupe will slot beneath the 3-Series when it is launched next
spring. However, unlike the 1-Series Sedan, the model will be offered in a
variety of markets including the United States.
Full details will be announced shortly, but the
2-Series Gran Coupe will ride on the company’s front-wheel drive UKL platform.
Critics might scoff at this decision, but the automaker has previously said the
car will deliver “hallmark BMW driving pleasure.”
Getting back to the teaser images, they show the car
will have a prominent grille which is flanked by slender headlights. We can
also see an aggressive front bumper with large air intakes. The sporty styling continues
further back as the 2-Series Gran Coupe has a dynamic greenhouse, a sloping
roofline and a stylish rear end with an integrated spoiler. We can also see
prominent character lines, slim taillights and a ventilated rear fascia on what’s
presumably the M235i.
An assortment of engines will be available and US
customers can look forward to 228i and M235i variants. The former will have a
turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces around 228 hp and 349 Nm of torque. It will be connected to an
eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to a standard all-wheel
drive system. The M235i also has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but
it should have 302 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Like
its mainstream counterpart, the model will also have all-wheel drive and an
eight-speed automatic gearbox.
